Starter battery question

[mikeymancs]

Hello All,
Right, another battery question for you!
My starter battery has finally given up, have tried recharging but it just isn't holding the charge over night, so new battery time.

The battery in the van at the moment is a Unipart GBA3100 which according to the label is 64 amp hrs, RC120 and a CCA 640.

On the net I am struggling to find the same spec with the correct dimensions. The height of current battery is 175mm and the ones I am finding are more like 190mm high.

I have found a few batteries which have a higher AMP HR rating, typically 72 and also a higher CCA rating. I can get these with the correct height no problems, but will the higher amp HR have any derogatory effect on the starter motor or alternator?

Also, what's the best thing to do, pay a little more and get a Bosch or will one of the more budget brands suffice?

Thanks
Mike.

Ps my van is a 1988 1.6 TD.

[mikeymancs]

I could do with being sense-checked here.

Can anyone offer advice as to whether I should pay the extra for the Bosch one? never heard of Lion batteries, apparantly they supply Eurocarparts though?

http://www.bargainbatteries.co.uk/items ... attery-100

http://www.boschbatteries.com/car/s4007 ... 2-1-57.php

They both have the right dimensions.


Ta very muchly

[AdrianC]

Can anyone offer advice as to whether I should pay the extra for the Bosch one? never heard of Lion batteries, apparantly they supply Eurocarparts though?

Given that ECP (along with GSF etc) stock some really cheap rubbish in all sorts of directions, I'm not sure that's a great recommendation.

I'll normally get Bosch over most other brands - not only the quality, but I _really_ like the structure of the company (primarily owned by a humanitarian charity - so all the profits "do good") - but £77 vs £43 is a big jump.

A quick google suggests Bosch S4007 is right for a '90s Focus, so that might help identify some better choices?

[mikeymancs]

Cheers AdrianC

I think I'll go for the Bosch, although it's a bit more ££££ it's a well known brand and has a longer warranty.

Thanks again

[jpennington]

FWIW I bought a Bosch from GSF in 2000. It's been mainly used as the leisure battery but for the last year its been the starter. I changed them over because I suspected a problem with the one year old Halfords battery. The Bosch still seems to be going fine (touch wood). Over ten years is pretty good in my book.